The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-11-04
wealthy uan' ,wfh frirLt.

4 tall. handsomely dressed man,
Ietuing on tie arm o. an attendant,
was walking up MadIs0a avenue sun
day Just a. a vasl throng of cburch-g.,-
srs we're returning home. Suddenly he
stopped, looked AZ his legs Or a fright
,ued way aud fe!l to the ground in q J..
Ills body twisted aud writhsd In way
horrible 20 see. and he made a strange
noise which sounded like a dozen angry
rattlesnakss. The geutletnan's attend
ant evidently knew Just what To do.
lie raised the sufferers head so that lie
could no. iniuIe 10 on the sidewalk and
quickly loossned the fastenings OF his
shirt. When the first violence OF the
a bystander for help aud removed him TO
a drug store. Daring the tit the gentle.
mans hat had rolled of, and also his
wig, leaving exposed a head as smooth
as billiard ball While waiting for a
carriage the attendant told a reporter a
remarkable story of how his master
came 20 be so terribly afflicted.
The gentleman is Mr.. Francklyn
Brush, and ne is cousin OF the Mr..
FraLcklyn who is now in trouble or ac-
count of his dealing with the Cunard
Steamship Company. Ten years ago
Mr. Brush cIme TO America from Eng
land TO seek his fortune as civil engi-
neer. lie had letters of introduction
which. together with his cousins IN
fllence secured him place on the In
teruaticnal and Great Northern Rtil-
road in Texas, winch was then being
built. lie joined Major Bsnham's par
ty IS assistant engineer. Oae day IN
October, 1877, Major Benham sent Mr..
Brush TO obtain certain papers from
Capt. Wavdell, who was in charge of
the next division. He started on his
twenty-mile ride in the morning and
reached his destination shortly before
noon. He refused an invitation to re
main In Capt. Wardell's camp until .he
heat Of the daY had past and ut once
started on his return journey. Halt
way beween the two camps Mr.. Brush
became tired and dismounted from his
horse. He found shady place on a
large rock overshadowed by trees, and
STR ched himself out TO rest.
lie had been aleep some time when he !
WAS awakened by strange sensation. lC |
appeared as though a heavy weight was
attached to each leg. When he opened |
his eyes an omiaous rattling noise greet !
ed his ears. Two hugh rattlesIakes had |
coiled themselves about each of his legs, |
and at the slightest motion the reptiles
raised their heads. ready. TO strike. !
Afraid to move and filed with inexpres
sible terror, Mr.. Brush lay hour after
hour with two big snakes coiled about |
him. At last the sun began TO set, and |
the chill night air began to make the |
snakes uncomfortable. Slowly they uu- !
WOuud themselves from about Mr.. |
Brush and crawled into a crevice in the 1
rocks. Then he mounted his horse and |
rode into camp. When his horse matted |
IN front Of Major Bentham's s tent, Mr.. |
Brush fell from IT, in fit. For three /
days he remained unconscious, passing /
AlOLll bllt IL lINO 6huNut-s uuliA hl9 4liC
was despaired of. At last he rallied
sufficiently 30 be removed to San Anton
ia, where he remained in the hospital
for SIX months. During his illness
every hair dropped from his head, AS
soon as practicable Mr.. Brush was TAX
en- to Englaud. where he remained until
year ago, when through the death of
relative he came into a handsome prop
erty, He has been travelling under the
care of "a muse since then, but he is cor
8 autIy subject TO its. 1t is the opin-
ION OF noted surgeons who have failed
TO effect a cure that Mr.. Brush will de
during one of these fits. At his death
his property VIII pass to his cousin, Mr..
Francklyn.